Department of Health and Social Care

Clinical waste - update

lord o'shaughnessy: My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Health (Stephen Hammond) has made the following written statement:I am today taking the opportunity to update the House about a company which provides clinical waste services to NHS Trusts.This company – Healthcare Environmental Services (HES) - was subject to previous discussions in Parliament. On 9th October, the then Minister of State for Health, set out concerns that a number of waste storage and treatment sites were well over the permitted levels. This included waste collected from hospitals and other public services. Although the waste was stored securely, the Environment Agency was sufficiently concerned at the activities of this company that they took regulatory action, including launching a criminal investigation.At the start of October, a number of trusts served by HES’ Normanton site, terminated their contracts, and arranged for Mitie to provide waste collection and incineration services instead.Until last week, a number of other NHS trusts continued to receive services from HES. Those organisations, supported by NHSI and the Department of Health and Social Care, have been monitoring the situation.However, HES has now failed to collect waste from 24 further trusts. NHSI has sought assurance from HES that it has not ceased trading and is capable of, and will continue to provide services. Such assurance has not been forthcoming. Contingency arrangements are in place for each of the affected trusts. An optional extension in the Mitie contract has been exercised, which will allow all affected trusts to access a replacement clinical waste collection service. This has been communicated to all Trusts and NHSI is working with affected trusts to mobilise and implement contingency plans.These robust contingency measures mean there is no gap in service provision and no health risk to the public.


This statement has also been made in the House of Commons: 
HCWS1168

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Contingent Liability for the Joint Inspection Team

lord bourne of aberystwyth: My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (James Brokenshire), has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.I am today laying a Departmental Minute to advise that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has received approval from Her Majesty’s Treasury for a contingent liability associated with the Joint Inspection Team (JIT) advisory role to local authorities.The Departmental Minute describes the contingent liability that MHCLG will hold as a result of the JIT providing advice to the local authority. The local authority is still responsible for making decisions on enforcement.The unquantifiable contingent liability will remain for the duration of the JIT operations likely to be a period of twelve months, plus 6 years.If the liability is called against JIT, provision for any payment will be sought through the normal Supply procedure.


This statement has also been made in the House of Commons: 
HCWS1169